A DESPERATE father came to Oxford last night in a bid to find his daughter who disappeared without trace more than three weeks ago.

Dorcas Adjei left her parents home in Croydon on May 18 to return to her house, in Outram Road, Cowley, and take her exams at Oxford Brookes University.

But the 22-year-old publishing student has disappeared and despite pleas from police has failed to attend any university lectures, or contact friends and family.

Her father Victor Adjei, 50, has scoured Oxford and put up posters appealing for information in places she might have visited.

Mr Adjei said: “We are very worried. It is heart breaking just not knowing if she is alive or coming home. It’s not easy when you can’t find your daughter.

“We hope she is with a friend. She always used to speak about friends and when we called her she would usually be with friends.

“We don’t quite know who these friends are yet we believe, and hope, she is safe and well.”

Ms Adjei, who is the oldest of four children, was last seen on security footage leaving one of the city’s Odeon cinemas on the night she left her parents home.

No one has spoken to her or seen her since and she did not turn up to an arranged meeting with a friend in Staffordshire at the end of May.

All her belongings remain at her shared house apart from a bag she was carrying when she left London.

Posters appealing for information have been put up in the city centre, East Oxford and near Brookes Headington campus.

Her bank account has been used since she disappeared and is now overdrawn, but her passport remains at the family home.

The family has called her mobile phone, but there has been no answer.

Thames Valley Police missing person’s co-ordinators believe Ms Adjei could still be in the Oxford area and have appealed for help to trace her.

Mr Adjei has returned to England from his work with the United Nations in Ivory Coast to begin his search.

He added: “Hopefully, she is with friends. She left home on May 18 and since then she has never called.

“She was leaving to take her exams but she has never been back to university.

“We just want whoever knows where she is to ring us and the police and let us know she is safe.

“We want her to come home. She won’t be in trouble, we just want to give her a hug and make sure she is ok.”

Ms Adjei is about 5ft 2ins tall, small build with black weave hair and a fringe. She usually wears dangly earrings, skinny jeans, a blouse and jacket and wears glasses to read.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk